Not a Judge for me

From the Palm Beach Post.

WEST PALM BEACH — Citing his potentially financially crippling ambitions to become a circuit judge and his ex-wife's 16-year, live-in relationship with another man, attorney David French this week asked a judge to free him from his $3,400-a-month alimony payment.

On Friday, however, Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Jack Cook ruled that alimony, like marriage, can be a till-death-do-us-part arrangement.

Despite a year-old state law that allows spouses to get out of alimony if they can prove their exes are avoiding marriage solely to keep the monthly payments coming, Cook ruled that since French's ex-wife has not worked in nearly three decades, he should continue to write the checks.

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However, the judge added, since French's ex-wife, Gayle Smith, is now worth more than $900,000, French does not have to pick up her legal tab in defending the lawsuit.

It is the second time in 13 years that French has asked that his alimony be reduced because of Smith's longtime relationship with a now-retired Delta Airlines customer service representative.

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French argued that his Boca Raton office, which once generated about $800,000 in legal fees annually, has been hard-hit by legislation aimed at curbing civil litigation.

Further, he said, his salary would decline if he wins a four-way race to unseat Circuit Judge Arthur Wroble on Sept. 5. Circuit judges make $139,497 annually.

Can you believe French's chutzpah? His salary will decrease if he becomes a circuit court judge. He almost sounds like the child who murders his parents and then pleads for mercy saying they're an orphan now. I have a message for French- If you can't aford public office, then don't run.

Palm Beach County doesn't need a Judge who is or could be financially compromised sitting on the bench. Florida has enough knucklehead judges as it is.

Go back to your law practice David French.

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